A few kilometres outside of Azay-le-Rideau, half-way between Tours and Chinon, you come across the village of Villaines-les-Rochers. Osier has been grown and woven at this place for more than 150 years.
40 basket makers keep the tradition alive and still weave in their workshops, part of them being troglodytic sites. The village is the most important production site in France and has become the French capital of basketry. The tradition has been kept alive thanks to the synergy and energy of the osier producers and basket makers who founded a basketry cooperative.
You will learn all about osier there – how it grows and what it is used for. Watch the videos and enjoy the exhibition of fine arts.
The shop is like Ali Baba’s cave with an uncountable number of hand-made basketry craft products.
You can also attend a basketry workshop for beginners there. Don’t forget to book in advance!
Language of the visit : French
Basketry workshops : Schedule online
